Information display cap for a hanger

ABSTRACT

A system and apparatus for an information display cap are described. The apparatus may include an information display cap having a body with a continuous outer surface and inner surface. The body may have multiple hanger attachment members connected to the inner surface and arranged to attach the information display cap to a hanger. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

BACKGROUND

A hanger is typically used to hang an item, such as a garment or item ofclothing. Some hangers may display certain information about the item.Examples of such information may include a size, a brand, an itemidentification number, and so forth. Since the item for a given hangeris unknown prior to using the hanger, such information is typicallydisplayed using a separate attachment to the hanger. Attachinginformation to a hanger, however, may be difficult depending upon theparticular configuration of the attachment. Consequently, there may be aneed for improved techniques to display information by a hanger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a partial side view of a hanger in accordance withone embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of an information display cap inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates an interior side view of the information display capof FIG. 2 in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the information display cap of FIG. 3in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section view of the information display capof FIG. 3 taken along line C-C in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the information display cap of FIG. 3mounted on the hanger of FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-section view of the information display capof FIG. 3 mounted on the hanger of FIG. 1 taken along line D-D inaccordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a partial side view of a hanger in accordance withone embodiment. FIG. 1 illustrates a top portion of a hanger 100. Hanger100 may be representative of any type of hanger, such as a top hanger,bottom hanger, intimate apparel hanger, outwear hanger, and so forth.Hanger 100 may be used to hang any number of different items, includingclothing and non-clothing items. Hanger 100 may comprise multipleelements, including a hook 102, a hook boss 104, neck 112 (also referredto as a collar) and arms 114, 116 (also referred to as shoulders). Inone embodiment, hook 102 may be connected to hook boss 104. Hook 102 maytake any shape, such as the curved shape shown in FIG. 1, and others aswell. Hook boss 104 may be connected to neck 112. Neck 112 may beconnected to arms 114, 116. It may be appreciated that hanger 100 maycomprise more or less elements as desired for a given implementation.

Hanger 100 may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, plastic,polystyrene, polypropylene, ABS, nylon, and so forth. In one embodiment,for example, hanger 100 may be constructed from plastic as a singleintegrated piece using conventional injection molding techniques. Otherconstruction techniques may be used as well, such as constructing eachelement separately and attaching the elements together. The embodimentsare not limited in this context.

In one embodiment, hook boss 104 may comprise a hook boss cylinder 106.Hook boss cylinder 106 may take a hollow or solid cylindrical shape,although other shapes may be used as well. Hook boss cylinder 106 mayhave ends 106 a, 106 b, with end 106 a connecting to hook 102 and end106 b connecting with neck 112. The embodiments are not limited in thiscontext.

In one embodiment, hook boss 104 may also comprise extending members108, 110 to provide additional stability and rigidity to hanger 100.Extending members 108, 110 may each have ends 108 a, 108 b and ends 110a, 110 b, respectively. End 108 a of extending member 108 may connectproximate to end 106 a of hook boss cylinder 106, while end 108 b ofextending member 108 may connect to neck 112 proximate to end 106 b ofhook boss cylinder 106. Similarly, end 106 a of extending member 110 mayconnect proximate to end 106 a of hook boss cylinder 106, while end 110b of extending member 110 may connect to neck 112 proximate to end 106 bof hook boss cylinder 106.

In one embodiment, extending members 108, 110 may each comprise at leasttwo portions. The first portion may be a raised or elevated portion in afirst plane, while the second portion may be a lowered or depressedportion in a second plane different from the first plane. As a result,the first and second portions may create a raised ridge having a contactsurface. In one embodiment, for example, extending member 108 maycomprise a first raised portion 108 a and a first flat portion 108 bforming a first ridge 108 c having a first contact surface 108 d.Similarly, extending member 110 may comprise a second raised portion 110a and a second flat portion 110 b forming a second ridge 110 c having asecond contact surface 110 d. The embodiments are not limited in thiscontext.

In one embodiment, neck 112 may be connected to arms 114, 116. Arms 114,116 may be used to hang, retain or attach a clothing or non-clothingitem to hanger 100. Arms 114, 116 may accomplish this using any numberof slots, grooves, clasps, clamps, fasteners, and other elements (notshown) to facilitate hanging, retaining or attaching the desired item.The embodiments are not limited in this context.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of an information display cap inaccordance with one embodiment. FIG. 2 illustrates an informationdisplay cap 200. Information display cap 200 may have a top portion 202and a bottom portion 204. In one embodiment, for example, top portion202 is smaller than bottom portion 204, thereby causing informationdisplay cap 200 to take a roughly triangular form. Information displaycap 200 may also have sides 206, 208, 210 and 212. Sides 206, 208, 210and 212 may be planar, curved or contoured surfaces sloping from topportion 202 to bottom portion 204. In one embodiment, sides 206, 208,210 and 212 are continuous or contiguous without any substantial breaks,gaps or separations between individual sides, thereby forming acontinuous outer surface for displaying information.

In one embodiment, each side may be capable of displaying information.For example, information display cap 200 may display any informationdesired for hanger 100 or any item attached to hanger 100. Examples ofsuch information may include a size, a brand, an item identificationnumber, and so forth. As shown in FIG. 2, side 206 of informationdisplay cap 200 may be used to display size information as indicated bythe word “LARGE.” The information may be printed or disposed directly onthe surface of side 206. Alternatively, the information may be printedor disposed on some other tangible medium, such as a label, and fastenedto the surface of side 206 using some form of adhesive. The embodimentsare not limited in this context.

In one embodiment, information display cap 200 may be made of similarmaterials as that of hanger 100. For example, information display cap200 may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, plastic,polystyrene, polypropylene, ABS, nylon, and so forth. In one embodiment,for example, information display cap 200 may be constructed from plasticas a single integrated piece using conventional injection moldingtechniques. Other construction techniques may be used as well, such asconstructing two or more elements separately and attaching the elementstogether. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In one embodiment, information display cap 200 may be mounted on hanger100. Information display cap 200 may be arranged to interface withhanger 100. More particularly, information display cap 200 may bearranged to interface with hook boss 104 of hanger 100 in a manner thatquickly and securely attaches information display cap 200 to hanger 100.Information display cap 200 may have an interior geometry comprisingmultiple hanger attachment members located on an inner surface ofinformation display cap 200. The hanger attachment members may act ashooks or clasps to engage voids or pocket areas of hook boss 104 (e.g.,contact surfaces 108 d, 110 d) to secure information display cap 200 tohanger 100, and thereby prevent information display cap 200 from beingeasily removed or displaced from hanger 100. Information display cap 200may be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3-7.

FIG. 3 illustrates an interior side view of the information display capof FIG. 2 in accordance with one embodiment. FIG. 3 illustrates aninterior side view of information display cap 200 having transparentsides. As shown in FIG. 3, information display cap 200 may have asubstantially hollow or empty interior cavity 312, as well as a topaperture 302 and a bottom aperture 304. Interior cavity 312 may have aninterior geometry comprising multiple hanger attachment members 310. Topaperture 302 and bottom aperture 304 may provide access to interiorcavity 312. Together, top aperture 302, interior cavity 312, and bottomaperture 304 allows objects to pass completely through informationdisplay cap 200. The width of top aperture 302 may be smaller than thewidth of bottom aperture 304, although apertures 302, 304 may share thesame depth.

As a result, information display cap 200 may have a shape appropriate tocover hook boss 104 of hanger 100 when in a mounted position. In oneembodiment, for example, top aperture 302 may have a width ofapproximately 0.485 to 0.515 inch, while bottom aperture 304 may have awidth of approximately 1.106 to 1.136 inches. In one embodiment,information display cap 200 may have a height of approximately 0.735 to0.765 inch. It may be appreciated that these dimensions are given by wayof example only, and the embodiments are not limited in this context.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the information display cap of FIG. 3in accordance with one embodiment. FIG. 4 illustrates a top view ofinformation display cap 200. The top view allows another perspective ofinterior cavity 312. As previously mentioned, interior cavity 312 mayhave multiple hanger attachment members 310. In one embodiment, forexample, interior cavity 312 includes four hanger attachment members 310a-d. In one embodiment, for example, each hanger attachment member 310may have a width of approximately 0.040 to 0.050 inch, and those hangerattachment members 310 positioned on the same side of informationdisplay cap 200 may be spaced approximately 0.276 to 0.283 inch apart.In one embodiment, for example, information display cap 200 may have adepth of approximately 0.365 to 0.385 inch. The embodiments, however,are not limited to these example dimensions.

As shown in FIG. 4, hanger attachment members 310 a, 310 b arepositioned on inner surface 402, and hanger attachment members 310 c,310 d are positioned on inner surface 404. More particularly, hangerattachment members 310 a, 310 b extend substantially perpendicular toinner surface 402 in direction 406, while hanger attachment members 310c, 310 b extend substantially perpendicular to inner surface 404 indirection 408. Although FIG. 4 illustrates four hanger attachmentmembers 310 a-d, it may be appreciated that any number of hangerattachment members above two may be appropriate as desired for a givenimplementation. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

221 As further shown in FIG. 4, hanger attachment members 310 a-d arearranged in pairs to engage, clamp, clasp, hook, grab, clutch orotherwise retain extending members 108, 110 of hook boss 104. In oneembodiment, for example, a first pair of hanger attachment members 310a, 310 c is arranged such that hanger attachment members 310 a, 310 care directly opposite of each other. Similarly, a second pair of hangerattachment members 31 b, 310 d is arranged such that hanger attachmentmembers 31 b, 310 d are directly opposite of each other. The first andsecond pairs are positioned to correspond to cavities formed as part ofextending members 108, 110.

Although FIG. 4 illustrates both first and second pairs as comprisinghanger attachment members positioned directly opposite of each other, itmay be appreciated that the first and second pairs may comprise hangerattachment members which are offset relative to each other, as long asthe placement of the hanger attachment members provide sufficientattachment to extending members 108, 110 as desired for a givenimplementation. Furthermore, although FIG. 4 illustrates an even numberof hanger attachment members 310, it may be appreciated that an oddnumber of hanger attachment members 310 may also be used as long as theplacement of the odd number of hanger attachment members providesufficient attachment to extending members 108, 110 as desired for agiven implementation. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

During mounting operations, information display cap 200 may be placedover hook 102 through aperture 304 of end 204 of information display cap200 in direction 308. Hook 102 may proceed through interior cavity 312,and exit through aperture 302 of end 202 of information display cap 200.Information display cap 200 may continue over hook 102 substantiallyunencumbered or without substantial resistance until hanger attachmentmembers 310 reach hook boss 104. Once hanger attachment members 310reach hook boss 104, resistance may be encountered when moving indirection 308. This resistance may be caused by hanger attachmentmembers 310 making initial contact with extending members 108, 110 ofhook boss 104. Once hanger attachment members 310 pass over hook boss104, as described in more detail below, hanger attachment members 310may engage or clasp extending members 108, 110 of hook boss 104 therebycompleting mounting operations for information display cap 200. Oncemounted, information display cap 200 may be loosely held to hook boss104. Since sides 206, 208, 210 and 212 are continuous or contiguous,information display tab 200 may not be removed from hanger 100 in alateral direction (e.g., perpendicular to hook boss cylinder 106)without breaking information display tab 200, thereby preventinginformation display tab 200 from being accidentally removed or fallingoff of hanger 100. Furthermore, the engagement of hanger attachmentmembers 310 with extending members 108, 110 of hook boss 104 may preventany substantial movement of information display cap 200 in a direction306 to reverse the mounting operations once information display cap 200has been properly mounted. As a result, information display cap 200 maybe securely fixed to hanger 100 in a relatively quick and efficientmanner. The interaction between hanger attachment members 310 and hookboss 104 to create the mounted position may be described in more detailwith reference to FIG. 5.

251 FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section view of the information displaycap of FIG. 3 taken along line C-C in accordance with one embodiment.FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section view of information display cap 200.The cross-section view provides a side view of hanger attachment members310 a, 310 c. In one embodiment, for example, hanger attachment members31 a-d may each have a height of approximately 0.135 to 0.155 inch, anda depth of approximately 0.150 to 0.160 inch. The embodiments, however,are not limited to these example dimensions.

As shown in FIG. 5, hanger attachment members 310 a, 310 c arepositioned on inner surfaces 402, 404, respectively, of interior cavity312. More particularly, hanger attachment members 310 a, 310 c extendsubstantially perpendicular to inner surfaces 402, 404, respectively,and are arranged directly opposite of each other. As shown in FIG. 4,hanger attachment members 310 b, 310 d are positioned on inner surfaces402, 404, respectively, in a manner similar to hanger attachment members310 a, 310 c.

As further shown in FIG. 5, hanger attachment member 310 a may take ashape having a substantially flat surface 504, entry surface 506, and anangled surface 508. Similarly, hanger attachment member 310 c may take ashape having a substantially flat surface 510, entry surface 512, and anangled surface 514. It may be appreciated that the description of hangerattachment members 310 a, 310 c may also apply to hanger attachmentmembers 310 b, 310 d even though hanger attachment members 310 b, 310 dare not shown in FIG. 5.

In one embodiment, flat surfaces 504, 510 may form a retention side forhanger attachment members 310. When in the mounted position, theretention side may partially engage or make contact with the contactsurfaces of extending members 108, 110, thereby preventing substantialmovement of information display cap 200 in direction 306. Although notshown in FIG.5, hanger attachment members 310 b, 310 d may be also bearranged similar to the shapes of hanger attachment members 310 a, 310c, respectively, thereby forming a retention side for hanger attachmentmembers 310 b, 310 d.

In one embodiment, angled surfaces 508, 514 may form an attachment sidefor hanger attachment members 310. Angled surface 508 may form anapproximately 45 degree angle relative to the bottom plane ofinformation display cap 200 and flat surface 504 as illustrated by line502. Angled surface 514 may also form an approximately 45 degree anglerelative to the bottom plane of information display cap 200 and flatsurface 510, although opposite to the angle formed by angled surface508. Angled surfaces 508, 514 of hanger attachment members 310 a, 310 cmay together form a receiving area 516. Although not shown in FIG. 5,hanger attachment members 310 b, 310 d may be also be arranged similarto the shapes of hanger attachment members 310 a, 310 c, respectively,thereby forming an attachment side for hanger attachment members 310 b,310 d having a receiving area 518.

In one embodiment, entry sides 506, 512 may form an entry area 520.Similarly, the entry sides of hanger attachment members 310 b, 310 d mayalso form an entry area 522. The width of entry areas 520, 522 may beinitially sized to a first width, with the first width being slightlysmaller than the width of raised portions 108 a, 110 a, respectively, ofhook boss 104.

In one embodiment, receiving areas 516, 518 and entry areas 520, 522 maybe used to guide and facilitate entry of extending members 108, 110,respectively, into interior cavity 312 of information display cap 200,thereby allowing the first and second pairs of the hanger attachmentmembers to clasp extending members 108, 110, respectively. Prior tomaking contact with extending members 108, 110 of hook boss 104, hangerattachment members 310 a-d may be in a first position extendingperpendicular to their respective interior walls. As extending members108, 110 move towards receiving areas 516, 518, the angled surfaces ofhanger attachment members 310 may assist in guiding the extendingmembers 108, 110 into interior cavity 312. The width of the raisedportions 108 a, 110 a of extending members 108, 110 may slightly exceedthe first width of entry areas 520, 522. Consequently, as force isapplied in direction 308 to mount information display cap 200 on hookboss 104 of hanger 100, hanger attachment members 310 may flex andexpand to a second position thereby causing entry areas 520, 522 to havea second width that is sufficiently wide enough to accommodate the widthof raised portions 108 a, 110 a. The needed flexibility may be providedby sides 206, 212, by hanger attachment members 310, or a combination ofboth. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

Once raised portions 108 a, 110 a pass through entry areas 520, 522,hanger attachment members 310 may return to the first position, therebycausing entry areas 520, 522 to resume the first width. At this pointthe retention side of hanger attachment members 310 comprising flatsurfaces 504, 510 may engage or make contact with contact surfaces 108d, 110 d of extending members 108, 110, respectively. Since the firstwidth of entry areas 520, 522 is smaller than the width of raisedportions 108 a, 110 a of extending members 108, 110 of hook boss 104,hanger attachment members 310 prevents any substantial movement ofinformation display tab 200 in direction 306 to remove informationdisplay tab 200 from hanger 100. Unlike the angled surfaces of hangerattachment members 310, the flat surfaces of hanger attachment members310 partially engages or makes contact with the contact surfaces ofextending members 108, 110, thereby preventing substantial movement indirection 306. The amount of surface contact between the flat surfacesof hanger attachment members 310 and contact surfaces of extendingmembers 108, 110 may vary depending on several factors, such as theangle of extending members 108, 110 and of corresponding contactsurfaces 108 a, 110 a, relative to the flat surfaces of hangerattachment members 310. The partial contact, however, should besufficient to prevent substantial movement of information display cap200 in a direction 306. It is worthy to note that the amount of forceneeded to remove or dislodge information display cap 200 from hook boss104 of hanger 100 may vary in accordance with a number of factors, suchas the type of materials selected for information display cap 200 andhanger 100, the specific dimensions for hanger attachment members 310and extending members 108, 110, design tolerances, manufacturingtolerances, and so forth. The embodiments are not limited in thiscontext.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the information display cap of FIG. 3mounted on the hanger of FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment. FIG.6 illustrates information display cap as mounted on hanger 100. Asshown, information display cap 200 fits over and covers hook boss 104 ofhanger 100. This securely attaches information display cap 200 to hanger100, and also provides a uniform and seamless appearance to hanger 100after information display cap 200 has been mounted.

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-section view of the information display capof FIG. 3 mounted on the hanger of FIG. 1 taken along line D-D inaccordance with one embodiment. FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-section viewof information display cap 200 as fully mounted on hanger 100. Thecross-section view highlights that the first width of entry areas 520,522 is typically smaller than the corresponding widths of raisedportions 108 a, 110 a of extending members 108, 110, respectively,thereby preventing substantial movement in direction 526.

Numerous specific details have been set forth herein to provide athorough understanding of the embodiments. It will be understood bythose skilled in the art, however, that the embodiments may be practicedwithout these specific details. In other instances, well-knownoperations, structures and elements have not been described in detail soas not to obscure the embodiments. It can be appreciated that thespecific structural and functional details disclosed herein may berepresentative and do not necessarily limit the scope of theembodiments.

It is also worthy to note that any reference to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in oneembodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarilyall referring to the same embodiment.

Some embodiments may be described using the expression “coupled” and“connected” along with their derivatives. It should be understood thatthese terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. For example,some embodiments may be described using the term “connected” to indicatethat two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contactwith each other. In another example, some embodiments may be describedusing the term “coupled” to indicate that two or more elements are indirect physical or electrical contact. The term “coupled,” however, mayalso mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with eachother, but yet still co-operate or interact with each other. Theembodiments are not limited in this context.

While certain features of the embodiments have been illustrated asdescribed herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes andequivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is thereforeto be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of theembodiments.

1. An apparatus comprising an information display cap having a body witha continuous outer surface and inner surface, said body having multiplehanger attachment members connected to said inner surface and arrangedto attach said information display cap to a hanger.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1, said outer surface having information disposed thereon.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1, said hanger attachment members comprising a firstpair of hanger attachment members positioned opposite of each other, anda second pair of hanger attachment members positioned opposite of eachother.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, said first and second pair of hangerattachment members arranged to retain a hook boss for said hanger. 5.The apparatus of claim 3, said first and second pair of hangerattachment members arranged to form an attachment side to receive afirst and second extending members of a hook boss, respectively.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 3, said first and second pair of hanger attachmentmembers to form a retention side to retain a first and second extendingmembers of a hook boss, respectively.
 7. The apparatus of claim 3, saidfirst and second pair of hanger attachment members to form entry areasto receive a first and second extending members, respectively, saidentry areas having a first width that is smaller than a width for saidfirst and second extending members.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, saidfirst and second pair of hanger attachment members to expand to a secondwidth, said second width to allow said first and second extendingmembers to pass through said entry areas to a retention side.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 8, said first and second pair of hanger attachmentmembers to contract to said first width after said first and secondextending members have passed through said entry areas to said retentionside.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, said retention side to engage acontact side for said first and second extending members to mount saidinformation display cap on said hanger.
 11. A system, comprising: ahanger; and an information display cap having a body with a continuousouter surface and inner surface, said body having multiple hangerattachment members connected to said inner surface and arranged toattach said information display cap to said hanger.
 12. The system ofclaim 11, said body having an outer surface, said outer surface havinginformation thereon.
 13. The system of claim 11, said hanger having ahook boss comprising a first extending member and a second extendingmember.
 14. The system of claim 13, said hanger attachment memberscomprising a first pair of hanger attachment members positioned oppositeof each other, and a second pair of hanger attachment members positionedopposite of each other.
 15. The system of claim 14, said first andsecond pair of hanger attachment members arranged to retain said hookboss for said hanger.
 16. The system of claim 15, said first and secondpair of hanger attachment members arranged to form an attachment side toreceive said first and second extending members, respectively.
 17. Thesystem of claim 16, said first and second pair of hanger attachmentmembers to form a retention side to retain said first and secondextending members, respectively.
 18. The system of claim 17, said firstand second pair of hanger attachment members to form entry areas toreceive said first and second extending members, respectively, saidentry areas having a first width that is smaller than a width for saidfirst and second extending members.
 19. An information display cap,comprising: a body with a contiguous outer surface and inner surface,said outer surface to display information, and said inner surface havingmultiple hanger attachment members arranged to attach said informationdisplay cap to a hook boss for a hanger.
 20. The information display capof claim 19, said hanger attachment members comprising a first pair ofhanger attachment members positioned opposite of each other, a secondpair of hanger attachment members positioned opposite of each other,with said first and second pair of hanger attachment members to retainsaid hook boss.
 21. The information display cap of claim 20, said firstand second pair of hanger attachment members arranged to form anattachment side to receive a first and second extending members of saidhook boss, respectively, and a retention side to retain said first andsecond extending members, respectively.
 22. The information display capof claim 21, said first and second pair of hanger attachment members toform entry areas to receive said first and second extending members,respectively, said entry areas having a first width that is smaller thana width for said first and second extending members.
 23. The informationdisplay cap of claim 22, said first and second pair of hanger attachmentmembers to expand to a second width, said second width to allow saidfirst and second extending members to pass through said entry areas to aretention side, and contract to said first width after said first andsecond extending members have passed through said entry areas to saidretention side.
 24. The information display cap of claim 23, saidretention side to engage a contact side for said first and secondextending members to mount said information display cap on said hanger.